Calendar

Store

Everything posted by Demonland

ON A PLATTER by The Oracle
At this time of the year, when the battle for the finals heats up, every game involving one or two of the contenders can be dramatic. By the time, Melbourne's turn comes to defend its current top eight placing, all five matches played either on Friday night or at some time on Saturday will have had an influence on the prospects of the teams playing for a finals finish or a top four spot (although admittedly, the Hawks' late bid may well be over before their game starts).
The fact that we will have better knowledge of how the club is placed in its quest for its first finals appearance since 2006 will not however, have an effect on what it has to do against the the 18th-placed Lions. Success is never served on a platter given away by others.
The challenge for Melbourne is to win this game and then the next. If it does that, it won't have to depend on others to make the finals which is what it's all about - the capacity to be responsible for one's own future.
The challenge of winning this particular game also requires the team to step up in a crunch game where it starts as the favourite against a much lower ranked side. On four occasions (against Fremantle, Hawthorn and North Melbourne twice), the Demons have turned up expecting the four points to be served up on that platter only to stumble and fall by narrow margins.
There is not much use in crying over spilt milk but a simple glance at the ladder will tell you that had they won half of those close games, they would have been in top four contention instead of fighting with three or four others for a place in the eight.
The Brisbane Lions have hit some form recently so they can't be taken lightly. Melbourne has much more at stake and simply cannot afford to lapse in this game. If it does so this time, then a large number of its fans, including yours truly, will be cheesed off.
And on that note, I hope that the players are not distracted by the fare of cheese, avocado, prosciutto which one Melbourne supporter feasted on last week at the Saints game.
THE GAME
Melbourne v Brisbane at MCG Sunday 19 August, 2017 at 1.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD
Overall: Melbourne 23 wins, Brisbane 20 wins
At MCG: Melbourne 13 wins, Brisbane 3 wins
Last Five Meetings: Melbourne 2 wins, Brisbane 3 wins
The Coaches: Goodwin 0 wins, Fagan 0 wins
MEDIA
TV - Fox Footy Channel live at 1.00pm
Radio - SEN ABC ABC Grandstand
THE BETTING
Melbourne $1.17 to win, Brisbane $5.25 to win
LAST TIME THEY MET Melbourne 19.17.131 defeated Brisbane 9.14.68 at the MCG, Round 9, 2016
The Demons don't often win games by more than 10 goals but they did just that the last time the two teams met 15 months ago. Jesse Hogan booted five goals, James Harmes four and Tomas Bugg finished with 31 touches.
THE TEAMS
MELBOURNE
B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jordan Lewis, Tom McDonald, Jayden Hunt
C: Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Jesse Hogan, Christian Petracca
F: Jeff Garlett, Cam Pedersen, James Harmes
FOLL: Max Gawn, Bernie Vince, Jake Melksham
I/C (from): Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Ben Kennedy, Corey Maynard, Billy Stretch, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman
IN: Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy, Corey Maynard, Billy Stretch
OUT: Jack Viney (foot)
BRISBANE LIONS
B: Daniel McStay, Harris Andrews, Daniel Rich
HB: Darcy Gardiner, Josh Walker, Sam Mayes
C: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Lewis Taylor, Michael Close, Claye Beams
F: Ryan Lester, Eric Hipwood, Jake Barrett
FOLL: Stefan Martin, Tom Rockliff, Dayne Beams
I/C (from): Jacob Allison, Tom Cutler, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Nick Robertson Sam Skinner, Alex Witherden
IN: Tom Cutler, Ben Keays, Sam Skinner, Alex Witherden
OUT: Cedric Cox (Omitted)
Brisbane has a poor record against Melbourne at the MCG having won there only three times (although that figure might have looked better had the Demons not sold home games to play at the Gabba in the Lions' halcyon days). Their last win at the G was by 41 points in Round 1, 2012 which was Mark Neeld's first game as coach. Things are far different for both sides these days but a loss to the Demons on Sunday would be far more devastating than the one from 5½ years ago that marked the beginning of the former coach and his team's long ride on the "reality bus".
A loss at home to the last placed team in the competition would signal that Melbourne simply does not merit a berth in the finals. Fortunately, the team does have the experienced heads who can lead it through the pressure of a must win game starting with co-skipper Nathan Jones who has dedicated his football lifetime to be in reach of the September action he last saw when his career was in its infancy. With him is Jordan Lewis who has seen it all in his time as a four-time premiership player and is now on the brink of yet another finals campaign. The Demons have won most of their games when these two have been in the team together and the leadership of the club's wise old heads will be critical over the weeks to come.
And with them is a young team with a lot of talent that plays a high possession game, wins the contested ball and has an All Australian ruckman who is smart enough to learn and adapt his technique after the issues he had with the umpires in the game against the Saints.
The Lions have improved greatly in the second half of the season and had a great win last week against a club in crisis after the sacking of their coach. This week they face a club with a mission and the boot will be on the other foot.
Melbourne by 45 points.

Interstaters and other footy travelers - what's the best place to meet someone after the game at the G and then travel to the airport? What's the best place to be picked up (obviously not in an area that traffic is blocked off) and then the best route to the airport? Happy to walk a bit as I have a bit of time up my sleeve.

Thanks for all the suggestions but I have someone picking me up and taking me to the airport so I really just need the best accessible meeting point that then has good access to get to the airport. I have time up my sleeve so I can walk to a spot away from the ground.

Which Dees do you think deserve a look in for an All Australian nod for the 40 man squad?
The AFL website has picked out 4 Dees.
Jeff Garlett: The classy forward has put together the most consistent season of his 165-game career, booting a team-leading 38 goals, and equal with fellow All Australian contender Essendon's Orazio Fantasia. Garlett's forward-half pressure has also been a staple of his game and a marked improvement on recent seasons.
Michael Hibberd: Missed the first four games due to an Achilles injury, but the former Bomber has been one of the competition's best defenders this season. Hibberd has been one of the recruits of the year, with the attacking defender averaging a career-high 28 disposals and ranking No.1 in the AFL for average metres gained per match (566.9m).
Neville Jetta: The underrated defender does not get the credit he deserves but the fact of the matter is Jetta is one of the competition's best one-on-one defenders. Regularly matches up on the opposition's most dangerous small forward and rarely gets beaten.
Clayton Oliver: Deserves to be in the final team based on his consistent output in a breakout second year at AFL level. Oliver has averaged 30 disposals, including 10 games above 30 touches or more, and 6.8 clearances per game. Gets criticised by some for over handballing, but his hands in heavy congestion are elite and almost unrivalled. - Ben Guthrie
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-16/all-australian-40man-squad-whos-in-the-mix-from-your-club

You can download and subscribe to the Demonland Podcast on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/demonland-podcast/id1220844996?mt=2
You can search Demonland Podcast on any other Podcast catching apps on iOs or Android devices.

The Official Demonland Podcast is LIVE tonight @ 8:30pm
Join Grapeviney and I as we discuss our Round 1 win over the Saints as well as giving our thoughts on the match ahead.
You can listen and chat LIVE with us here: http://demonland.com/Podcast/ (there's also a Podcast tab at under the banner at the top)
I will enable the chat prior to air.
You will be able to call us via Phone or Skype to give us your 2 cents on any topic we are discussing or any topic you'd like to discuss.
Phone: 03 9016 3666 or Skype: Demonland31
Please join us tonight and please participate via the live chat or by calling in.
You can subscribe to the Podcast on iTunes here: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/demonland-podcast/id1220844996

I'm talking about the 40 man squad. I think Hibberd is a definite inclusion in the actual team. Clarry man get a bench spot. Jetta of course is always overlooked and perhaps my one eyed red and blue glasses prevent me from being objective.

At this time of the year, when the battle for the finals heats up, every game involving one or two of the contenders can be dramatic. By the time, Melbourne's turn comes to defend its current top eight placing, all five matches played either on Friday night or at some time on Saturday will have had an influence on the prospects of the teams playing for a finals finish or a top four spot (although admittedly, the Hawks' late bid may well be over before their game starts).
The fact that we will have better knowledge of how the club is placed in its quest for its first finals appearance since 2006 will not however, have an effect on what it has to do against the the 18th-placed Lions. Success is never served on a platter given away by others.
The challenge for Melbourne is to win this game and then the next. If it does that, it won't have to depend on others to make the finals which is what it's all about - the capacity to be responsible for one's own future.
The challenge of winning this particular game also requires the team to step up in a crunch game where it starts as the favourite against a much lower ranked side. On four occasions (against Fremantle, Hawthorn and North Melbourne twice), the Demons have turned up expecting the four points to be served up on that platter only to stumble and fall by narrow margins.
There is not much use in crying over spilt milk but a simple glance at the ladder will tell you that had they won half of those close games, they would have been in top four contention instead of fighting with three or four others for a place in the eight.
The Brisbane Lions have hit some form recently so they can't be taken lightly. Melbourne has much more at stake and simply cannot afford to lapse in this game. If it does so this time, then a large number of its fans, including yours truly, will be cheesed off.
And on that note, I hope that the players are not distracted by the fare of cheese, avocado, prosciutto which one Melbourne supporter feasted on last week at the Saints game.
THE GAME
Melbourne v Brisbane at MCG Sunday 19 August, 2017 at 1.10pm
HEAD TO HEAD
Overall: Melbourne 23 wins, Brisbane 20 wins
At MCG: Melbourne 13 wins, Brisbane 3 wins
Last Five Meetings: Melbourne 2 wins, Brisbane 3 wins
The Coaches: Goodwin 0 wins, Fagan 0 wins
MEDIA
TV - Fox Footy Channel live at 1.00pm
Radio - SEN ABC ABC Grandstand
THE BETTING
Melbourne $1.17 to win, Brisbane $5.25 to win
LAST TIME THEY MET
Melbourne 19.17.131 defeated Brisbane 9.14.68 at the MCG, Round 9, 2016
The Demons don't often win games by more than 10 goals but they did just that the last time the two teams met 15 months ago. Jesse Hogan booted five goals, James Harmes four and Tomas Bugg finished with 31 touches.
THE TEAMS
MELBOURNE
B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jordan Lewis, Tom McDonald, Jayden Hunt
C: Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver
HF: Alex Neal-Bullen, Jesse Hogan, Christian Petracca
F: Jeff Garlett, Cam Pedersen, James Harmes
FOLL: Max Gawn, Bernie Vince, Jake Melksham
I/C (from): Angus Brayshaw, Mitch Hannan, Ben Kennedy, Corey Maynard, Billy Stretch, Josh Wagner, Sam Weideman
IN: Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy, Corey Maynard, Billy Stretch
OUT: Jack Viney (foot)
BRISBANE LIONS
B: Daniel McStay, Harris Andrews, Daniel Rich
HB: Darcy Gardiner, Josh Walker, Sam Mayes
C: Hugh McCluggage, Dayne Zorko, Ryan Bastinac
HF: Lewis Taylor, Michael Close, Claye Beams
F: Ryan Lester, Eric Hipwood, Jake Barrett
FOLL: Stefan Martin, Tom Rockliff, Dayne Beams
I/C (from): Jacob Allison, Tom Cutler, Ben Keays, Rhys Mathieson, Nick Robertson Sam Skinner, Alex Witherden
IN: Tom Cutler, Ben Keays, Sam Skinner, Alex Witherden
OUT: Cedric Cox (Omitted)
Brisbane has a poor record against Melbourne at the MCG having won there only three times (although that figure might have looked better had the Demons not sold home games to play at the Gabba in the Lions' halcyon days). Their last win at the G was by 41 points in Round 1, 2012 which was Mark Neeld's first game as coach. Things are far different for both sides these days but a loss to the Demons on Sunday would be far more devastating than the one from 5½ years ago that marked the beginning of the former coach and his team's long ride on the "reality bus".
A loss at home to the last placed team in the competition would signal that Melbourne simply does not merit a berth in the finals. Fortunately, the team does have the experienced heads who can lead it through the pressure of a must win game starting with co-skipper Nathan Jones who has dedicated his football lifetime to be in reach of the September action he last saw when his career was in its infancy. With him is Jordan Lewis who has seen it all in his time as a four-time premiership player and is now on the brink of yet another finals campaign. The Demons have won most of their games when these two have been in the team together and the leadership of the club's wise old heads will be critical over the weeks to come.
And with them is a young team with a lot of talent that plays a high possession game, wins the contested ball and has an All Australian ruckman who is smart enough to learn and adapt his technique after the issues he had with the umpires in the game against the Saints.
The Lions have improved greatly in the second half of the season and had a great win last week against a club in crisis after the sacking of their coach. This week they face a club with a mission and the boot will be on the other foot.
Melbourne by 45 points.

Viney was on crutches after the Port game too. I assume he has been on them after every game since. I think this is just part of managing him through the injury he had and not putting pressure on it post game.